Main Roads and Ports Minister, Mark Bailey, has announced the winner of the Australian Port or Terminal of the Year.
The Port of Townsville won Australian Shipping and Maritime Industry award for the second year in a row, which recognised the port for its efficiency and innovation in stakeholder engagement and communication.
“The Port of Townsville has now taken out the top prize in this category two years running and I understand this is the first time a port has won in successive years,” Mr Bailey said.
“The award highlights the excellent performance of the port and its team, in an environment of variable commodity prices and challenges in the resources industry.”
Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland, Coralee O’Rourke, said the award was great recognition for a Queensland Government Owned Corporation, which services more than 70 per cent of the population of Northern Australia.
“It’s been a great year for the Port of Townsville, which achieved record trade results in 2015-16 for zinc ferrite and fertiliser as well as refined copper exports and zinc concentrate imports,” Ms O’Rourke said.
“The port has also achieved significant growth in sugar and molasses exports as well as fuel and motor vehicle imports.
“It has launched a number of initiatives to grow its container trade, which is expected to reduce freight costs for northern Australia.
“This award shows that the Port of Townsville is ideally positioned as a premier trade and logistics hub for Northern Australia.”
Minister Bailey said the award highlights the importance of the Queensland Government’s decision to cancel the LNP Government’s plans to privatise the port.”
